In need of extra pitching, Work signed Will Geralds, a local semi-pro, on May 26. The next home stand would help decide whether the team would remain in Nashville or be forced to look for better patronage elsewhere. With the weather and the team's play improving, home attendance began to increase. President Simons arrived in Nashville on June 1 to assist Work with organizing a stock company to support the team. They succeeded in finding gentlemen willing to support the team, but were not able to work up the necessary amount to keep the team in the Centennial City. Nashville played its final game at Athletic Park on June 3 against the Terre Haute Hottentots. The Centennial lads seemed to put forth very little effort, scoring only two runs on four hits while the Hottentots put up 15 runs on just as many hits. The game was called in the eighth inning to the relief of players and fans alike. The team left town in second place with an 18–14 (.563) record, one game out of first. It was, at first, expected that the exposition, which drew in nearly two million visitors, would also attract patrons to the ballpark. In the end, it was supposed that the many other attractions offered by their namesake Centennial City in conjunction with the year's celebration drew too much attention away from what had become a promising team. Relocation President Simmons announced the league's intention to transfer the club to Decatur, Illinois. The league took possession of the team from Work and placed it in the hands of catcher Frank Belt. He would lead the team until it could be permanently established in its new city. Only George Cleve elected to leave the team with the rest staying together. The city of Nashville was left without a professional baseball team until the Nashville Baseball Club, better known as the Nashville Vols, was formed as a charter member of the Southern Association in 1901. After an off day on June 4, the team played a series each in Cairo and Paducah, where they were still referred to as Nashville. Meanwhile, Simons was still trying to place the former Nashville franchise in a new city. Decatur, the intended spot, refused to accept the team and its over $400 debt in unpaid player salaries and forthwith demolished their ballpark. Simons next turned to Springfield, Illinois; Owensboro, Kentucky;